Opening day on-line availability.

[FWRR3]

I am platinum, but I don’t have a lot of opening day booking experience, usually waiting for FLR rates, but today, just after 8am, I logged on to look at Fall 19 pricing and availability and I was surprised at what I saw. Looking at verandas, every cruise I looked at had nothing left on the starboard side and usually just a little group on the port side, with the exception of obstructed view or a few other undesirable locations. These were not popular cruises either. I usually see more availability than this long after opening day. If every cruise books this fast, I don’t see how there would be anything left for non-platinum folks.

Are all cabins released at once, or is DCL holding back?

Did on-line booking start at midnight, or 8am?

Do TA’s put holds on big groups of cabins, or what is going on?

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Maybe an error,

I can say interestingly that starboard sold out quickly on 2019 Iceland cruise.

 

[lanejudy]

Online was available at least by 7am, I've seen reports that early, possibly earlier.
Are you sure you were looking at "availability" or was that just the staterooms it offered? Only a few staterooms will show for selection, though I believe you can refresh or somehow get other staterooms to appear.
Or...DCL website has been glitchy. I believe it already crashed at least once this morning...

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Not all of the staterooms available will show. I've had my TA call about certain rooms that didn't look available, and it turns out they were.

 

[Geomom]

I am platinum, but I don’t have a lot of opening day booking experience, usually waiting for FLR rates, but today, just after 8am, I logged on to look at Fall 19 pricing and availability and I was surprised at what I saw. Looking at verandas, every cruise I looked at had nothing left on the starboard side and usually just a little group on the port side, with the exception of obstructed view or a few other undesirable locations. These were not popular cruises either. I usually see more availability than this long after opening day. If every cruise books this fast, I don’t see how there would be anything left for non-platinum folks.

Are all cabins released at once, or is DCL holding back?

Did on-line booking start at midnight, or 8am?

Do TA’s put holds on big groups of cabins, or what is going on?

Generally only 8 rooms/category/ship section show on the website. They seem to start with the port side, and closest to midship. If you want starboard, you'll have to call or see if a TA could get it for you. It's very annoying! I don't know why they can't just show ALL availability so we could actually pick the rooms we want!

 

[FWRR3]

Thanks, all. Now I feel better! I, agree, on-line booking doesn't help much if you can't see everything.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I don't know why they can't just show ALL availability so we could actually pick the rooms we want!

Because they don't want to show a completely empty ship! By only showing 8 rooms at a time, they hide total availability/give the impression of limited availability, thus driving up the pressure to book NOW.

That said, it would be more effective, and better for picking the area you want, for them to show rooms available that are scattered about the area, instead of all clumped together.